a couple takes a selfie on a mountain
Elizabeth Nelson and her partner, Jesse Hall.
  • Elizabeth Nelson launched her digital agency during the pandemic after being a wildland firefighter.
  • She and her partner made $180,000 in 2022 while maintaining the flexibility to ski and snowboard.
  • She believes work-life balance is key, and she teaches that to her clients, too.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Elizabeth Nelson, the 31-year-old owner of a digital-marketing agency based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Insider has verified her income with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.